EP310 The First Episode Of 2026, Lets Ease Into The Gardening year

Gardeners feel the pull to sprint in January, but nature is whispering a different message: slow down. We’re starting the year with a calm, practical roadmap that swaps panic for preparation and sets you up for a stronger spring. From frost-dried soil to incoming rain and storms, we read the season as it is and show why most sowing can wait until February—especially if you don’t have grow lights or steady heat for long-season favourites like chillies and aubergines.We share the simple jobs that pay off now: build or refresh no-dig beds, plan rotations and varieties, set up rainwater harvesting and basic irrigation, and check your kit so you’re not scrambling when the light returns. You’ll hear what’s coming next: a hands-on seed-sowing setup guide and a rich conversation on permaculture design with Pippa Chapman, focused on adapting resilient systems to small gardens and creating plant combinations that work in real life. Along the way, we celebrate messages from listeners across the world—a reminder that practical, step-by-step gardening advice travels—and we pause to honour the legacy of Seamus O’Brien of Kilmacurragh, whose deep horticultural knowledge shaped gardens and gardeners alike.If last year’s most-played episodes taught us anything, it’s that you value clear, tangible guidance you can take into the garden the same day. So that’s our promise: simple timing, smarter prep, and fewer stretched seedlings. Subscribe, share this with a gardener who needs a calmer January, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. What will you prepare this week so February sowing feels easy?

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If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know. Email: [email protected] Check out Master My Garden on the following channels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/ Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/ Until next week Happy gardening John